We Are All Storytellers: Discovering the Power of Knowing and Sharing Your Story
Presentation Description:
"Facts lead to knowledge, but stories lead to wisdom." - Dr. Rachel Remen
Many childhood cancer survivors may not realize that they are living an amazing story or know how to begin telling it. This fun and interactive session drew on Mike Lang's and Raymund Ong's own personal experiences, as well as short digital stories and murals created by other cancer survivors, to explore the idea of storytelling as it relates to cancer and our lives in general. The goal of the session was to empower and inspire survivors to tell their stories so that the wisdom they have gained from their painful (and incredible) life journey can be shared with others who need it.
Telling Their Story: Video from the 2015 Survivor Conference
Five attendees of the 2015 Ooch/POGO Survivor Conference shared their perspectives on survivorship; the challenges and obstacles they faced, the effect their diagnoses had on their lives and how they've found hope, inspiration and fulfilment. These individuals shared their stories in the hopes that they will resonate with other childhood cancer survivors, who in turn may choose to tell their own.
Video Credit: Michael Lang, Survive & Thrive Expeditions Ltd.
Speakers:
Michael Lang, MSc
Executive Director, Survive & Thrive Cancer Programs
Specialist, Person Centred Care Integration, AHS CancerControl
Research Assistant, University of Calgary
Raymund Ong
Founder, C4 Murals
Managing Your Fertility: Current Options, Practical Strategies
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Presentation Description:
This session presented a brief overview of options for fertility preservation in female and male survivors of childhood cancer. Mostly, the session reviewed the options for survivors who are unable to conceive post treatment. The session discussed the options for building a family using third party reproduction. The practical and legal perspectives were discussed for surrogacy, donor eggs and donor sperm
Speakers:
Sara R. Cohen, LL.B.
Fellow of the American Academy of Assisted Reproductive Technology Attorneys
Adjunct Professor, Osgoode Hall Law School
Karen Glass, MD, FRCS(C), FACOG
Reproductive Endocrinologist, CReATe Fertility Centre
Director, Oncofertility Program
Assistant Professor, University of Toronto.
All in the Family: Talking to Siblings about Childhood Cancer
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Presentation Description:
When a child is diagnosed with cancer, the focus automatically tends to fall on that child and how their disease will affect them. People rarely think about how the disease will affect their entire family, especially any siblings they may have. Whether the sibling is older or younger, at the hospital every day or away at school, having a sibling with cancer will inevitably not only change the dynamic with their brother/sister, but the family as a whole. This presentation looked at the disease through a less heard of, but equally important point of view: the sibling. The panel included the voices of an older brother, a younger sister, and a summary of relevant research presented by a health care professional.
Speakers:
Norma D'Agostino, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Clinical Health Psychologist, University Health Network
Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
Jenna Shamata, BAH
Sibling of a childhood cancer survivor
Kevin Wang, BHSc, MD/PhD Candidate
Hospital for Sick Children
University of Toronto
Sibling of a childhood cancer survivor
Beyond Survival: Emotional Equilibrium After Cancer
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Presentation description:
Childhood cancer can be an intensely stressful experience that may have emotional affects even years after treatment. While cancer can contribute to personal growth in some ways, it can also lead to emotional and social vulnerabilities later in life. This session explored common developmental challenges for survivors, highlighted the relationship between emotional and physical health, and considered the different ways survivors make sense of their cancer experiences as they move into adulthood.
Speaker:
Christopher J. Recklitis, Ph.D., MPH
Senior Psychologist
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
Harvard Medical School
Workshop B - Communicating with Family and Friends
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Presentation description:
This workshop provided participants the opportunity to have small group discussions about challenges around communicating with family and friends about the hard things. Topics addressed included: a) When to tell people about your cancer history? b) How to explain to others that “It is not over” and c) Learning to ask for help when you need it. Through the discussion helpful strategies and techniques were identified and compiled. The goal was for participants to leave the workshop with increased confidence and comfort in their ability to tackle the difficult conversations with family and friends.
Speaker:
Norma D'Agostino, Ph.D., C.Psych.
Clinical Health Psychologist, University Health Network
Lecturer, Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto
Workshop C - Common Workplace Issues: Tools and Strategies
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Presentation description:
Working from “Rethinking Disability in the Private Sector,” a Government of Canada Report from the Panel on Labour Market Opportunities for Persons with Disabilities, this workshop explored the reasons why qualified people with disabilities are good employment prospects. Myths surrounding hiring people with disabilities are discounted. The pros and cons of disclosing disability status are discussed, as well as types of accommodations and what the employee can take responsibility for in the accommodation process.
Speaker:
Lori Turner-Otte, BA, RRP
SAVTI Counsellor
Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO); London Health Sciences Centre
Workshop E - Genetic Testing for Cancer Survivors: Who and When
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Presentation description:
Genetics and genes are two words that we hear all the time in the news, especially when there are new discoveries in cancer. What do these words really mean in relation to cancer? And what do these words mean for survivors of childhood cancer? Workshop participants discussed some common genetic predisposition syndromes and what we can do to determine is a family has a genetic predisposition to cancer. Participants also discussed the pros and cons to having testing done for some of these conditions and discuss how some of these genetic tests are done.
Speaker:
Nikki Parkinson, MSc, CGC
Genetic Counsellor, Division of Clinical and Metabolic Genetics;
Coordinator, Molecular Genetics Laboratory, Division of Molecular Genetics, DPLM
The Hospital for Sick Children
Lecturer, Department of Molecular Genetics
University of Toronto
Life After Childhood Cancer – A Conference for Survivors
From setting life goals and dealing with the long-term health effects of treatment, to telling a new love interest about their experience with cancer, survivors of childhood cancer may struggle with many issues.
From October 16 – 18, 2015, POGO and Camp Oochigeas will present Life After Childhood Cancer, the third POGO survivor conference to address key issues survivors themselves have identified as being important to their health and well-being.
Matthew is a proud high school graduate, a college grad and a survivor. He has ongoing physical and cognitive challenges brought on by his disease and its treatment. He has difficulty with fine motor coordination, and a hard time listening and translating that information on paper. But he is driven to succeed and perseveres. Instead of taking notes by hand, he uses a laptop. If he doesn’t understand something, Matthew has no problem asking for help or researching until he figures it out. Matthew will attend the survivor conference for the first time this year.
“I’m looking forward to the survivor conference,” says Matthew. “I'm curious to hear from other survivors about their experiences and to share mine.”
In past years survivors of all ages have attended the conference and say it has helped them to better answer questions from others who have not experienced cancer.
“The conference aims to address educational and information needs in the context of social and recreational interaction – a combination we have found addresses survivors’ needs in a unique fashion, directly applicable to their daily life,” says Dr. Mark Greenberg, Senior Adviser, Policy & Clinical Affairs at POGO.
Practical approaches to their issues, like fertility and the disease’s impact on their families, are presented by leading experts, and also by other survivors. Survivors leave the conference knowing what questions to ask of their family doctor, who may never see another survivor in their practice.
“I’m happy that some sessions are run by other cancer survivors because it’s good to know I’m not the only one going through this,” says a past conference participant.
As for Matthew, his list of questions is building.
“I'm very interested to see what I can learn that will help me in the future,” he says.
While no one wants to think about cancer after they have beaten it, the thought of attending Life After Childhood Cancer would be one that is not wasted.
Get details about the 2015 Ooch/POGO Survivor Conference.
Canadian Oncology Nursing Day
The annual Canadian Oncology Nursing Day provides an opportunity for nurses across the country to host educational sessions on new an important oncology nursing topics and to celebrate the numerous contributions nurses make to the field of oncology.
On Thursday, April 7th, 2015, POGO and SickKids co-hosted the 2nd Annual Garron Family Cancer Centre Visiting Scholar Program featuring:
Kathleen Ruccione, PhD, MPH, RN, CPON, FAAN
Nurse Researcher
Children's Center for Cancer and Blood Diseases
Children's Hospital Los Angeles
Professor of Clinical Pediatrics
University of Southern California
To watch an archived video of the day's presentations, please click here. Username & password: COND2015. Please click here to view the event program and speakers.
Cadillac Fairview Run raises $250K for kids with cancer
Thank you to the families and friends who came out to support POGO and The Hospital for Sick Children!
On Sunday, April 26th, the 11th annual Cadillac Fairview 5K Run/Walk took place at its new venue at Shops at Don Mills.
Every year, this family-friendly event is a great way to take in the outdoors and support childhood cancer care. With both 5km and 1km routes, there is something for everyone.
In 2015, the Cadillac Fairview 5K Run/Walk raised over $250,000 for POGO and the Hospital for Sick Children, which goes towards essential programs for children with cancer, including counselling programs for survivors and financial support for families. Melissa Vella spoke about her experience as a young childhood cancer patient
Cadillac Fairview, a longstanding partner with POGO, is committed to supporting the communities in which it operates. Each year, they invite their friends – business partners, tenants, consumers, and employees – to participate in a meaningful and fun morning of physical activity and community engagement.
